Ghost Towns: Kolmanskop

This is the first in an occasional series where we’ll be looking at some of the world’s most interesting abandoned places.

In 1908, diamonds were discovered in the Namib Desert, and one of the towns that sprang up to provide shelter and entertainment for the influx of miners was Kolmanskop.

Modelled on a German town, at its height it boasted a hospital, ballroom, power station, school, skittle-alley, theatre and casino and railway line.

10 years later the end of World War I saw a huge drop in diamond prices, which heralded the beginning of the end for Kolmanskop. In 1936 larger deposits of more valuable diamonds were found near the coast, and the miners began to leave for the newly founded town of Oranjemund.

By the 1950s Kolmanskop was completely deserted, and the sweeping desert sand began to reclaim the town, wearing down the buildings and filling them slowly with sand.

Welcome to Google Sightseeing

Google Sightseeing takes you on a tour of the world as seen from satellite, using the free Google Earth program, or Google Maps in your web browser. Our team of authors present weird and wonderful sights as suggested by readers.

Could you be one of our authors? We're looking for more freelance writers - please get in touch for more information.

Previously on Google Sightseeing

The world has a certain reverential (or just morbid) fascination with the death sites of famous musicians. The pantheon of dead music legends is far too great (and depressing) to capture in just one article, but here’s a look at just some of the famous/infamous places where great talents have met untimely ends.

Translations

Copyright Statement

Comments are owned by whoever posted them and we are not responsible for their content. Privacy policy.

Google is a trademark of Google Inc. who are neither associated with this website nor endorse it in any way. Other names of companies and products mentioned on this website may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Thumbnail images are copyright Google and other companies, visit Google for full legal notices.